GLOVERSVILLE — Area residents are invited to participate in an early holiday feast when Change of 1 Ministry hosts the annual Thanksgiving to Remember community meal on Saturday at the Fulmont Community Church.
“It’s just a way for us to give back to the community,” Change of 1 Community Outreach Coordinator Ken Carman said. “There are so many people around the holidays who have nowhere to go or family to be with, this is a great way to give them a Thanksgiving meal and time to be with other people.”
The annual meal will be served in a new venue this year in the basement dining hall of Fulmont Community Church. Carman said the location will allow the food to be prepped and stored on the same floor that the meal is served which was not possible in the previous venue.
“Logistically this location is a little bit easier,” Carman explained.
Community members can still expect all of the classic Thanksgiving trimmings on Saturday including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and dessert.
“It’s a sit-down, traditional Thanksgiving meal,” Carman said.
The majority of the meal is prepared by individual members of area churches, Carman explained that Change of 1 sends out sign-up sheets to local churches months before the dinner asking for volunteers to sign up to provide various dishes.
Food items are dropped off on the day of the meal to be served by area volunteers and members of Change of 1 and the Board of Directors.
“Most of the work is done by members of the local churches who have graciously donated their time to us to serve the community and help us out,” Carman said. “None of it would be possible without the support and help of the churches here in Gloversville and throughout the area. We would never have the food we need or the manpower.”
A key component to a successful Thanksgiving meal is good food and plenty of it, which Carman said guests are sure to find.
“The food is great,” Carman said. “We have a lot of good cooks in the community who are gracious enough to donate their time.”
Carman said roughly 200 community members attended last year’s meal and there was plenty leftover, which Change of 1 was able to donate to the Gloversville Fire Department, other community organizations and individuals who were unable to make it out for the dinner.
“We had tons of food leftover which was a blessing. It’s always a big worry that the need is going to outweigh the servings,” Carman said.
But Carman is hoping for an even larger turn out this year than last year.
“We’re here to serve the community and make it a more caring place to live,” Carman said.
Carman explained that the dinner is intended to bring the community together, to connect people who may be struggling.
“People want to feel loved, they want to feel cared for and know somebody cares about them and community’s a great way of doing that,” Carman said. “Community is important because it gives them a sense of purpose and gives them a place to go.”
Overall Carman hopes that community members will come out to enjoy a meal together.
“Come whenever you can and eat,” Carman said. “And a huge thank you out there to all the churches in the city and all those who have helped us put it on year after year.”
Change of 1 Ministry will host the annual Thanksgiving to Remember community meal on Saturday from 4:45 to 7 p.m. in the basement dining hall at Fulmont Community Church at 16 W. Fulton St. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
